Marginal securing strip for carpets



J. M. PATERSQN ET AL MARGINAL SECURING STRIP FOR CARPETS June 10, 1952 Filed June 24, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l m m m w.

m Arraeuay June 10, 1952 J. M. PATERSON ETAL MARGINAL SECURING STRIP FOR CARPETS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1949 June 10, 1952 J. M. PATERS'ON ETAL 2,599,530 mama. SECURING STRJIP FOR CARPETS Filed June 24, 1949 x* 9/ l //X INVENTORS 'eaeaeflfiqreesa/v Patented June 10, 1952 OFFICE MARGINAL SECURING STRIP FOR CARPETS John Paterson,

M. Paterson, Glendale, and George M.

Los Angeles, Calif.

Application June 24, 1949, Serial No. 100,986 6 Claims. (CI. 16-16) This invention relates to miscellaneous hardware, and more particularly to carpet fasteners of the type, commonly known as carpet strips, which is regularly used to fasten the edges of stretched carpet to its supporting floor.

An object of our invention is to provide a carpet strip adapted to afford convenience in securing edges of a carpet to the floor in such a manner that the carpet strip is made invisible after installation by being completely hidden under the carpet, and which is capable of engaging the carpet without damage thereto and with such security that the carpet can be stretched with the maximum tension that the fibers and woven strands of the carpet can stand.

A more detailed object in this connection is to provide a carpet strip having carpet-engaging prongs so designed that they are less liable to tear the fabric of the carpet and to cut the fibres of which the carpet is made, than are the prongs of carpet strips of more conventional design, without however, impairing the strength of the prongs to the extent that they are apt to be bent out of shape when the carpet is stretched to the.

desired tension.

A further object is to provide a carpet strip of the character. described, which involves the use of a metal strip rather than wood as the base or foundation member of the item, and yet which is provided with means for supporting the relatively thin metal strip at substantially the elevation above the floor which corresponds to the thickness of the sub-padding commonly employed, thus making for an interruptedly smooth upper surface of the carpet where it extends over the marginal carpet strip.

Still another object is to provide means for compensating for the lateral shifting of the nails or other fastening members used in anchoring the carpet strip to a concrete floor which frequently occurs as the result of the nails encountering a relatively impenetrable piece ofgravel or the like embedded within the concrete. This compensation avoids the buckling of the metal strip which otherwise would occur as the shifting of the fastening member occurs in a direction extending longitudinally of the strip.

" still further object is to provide improvesin the design of the holes through which or. other fastening means are driven in .1 1 nail anchoring thecarpet strip to the floor, which improvements result in greater convenience to the operator while anchoring the strip in place, and in a smoother appearance of the carpet after laying, and in greater security of attachment of the carpet to the strip.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred forms of our invention which are illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the showing made by the said drawings and descrip tion, as we may adopt variations of the preferred forms within the scope of our invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partially broken away and shown in section, of a piece of carpet strip incorporating the principles of the present invention, and showing the manner of its use in fastening carpet to a floor.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view, the plane of section of which may be assumed to have been taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of one of the carpet-engaging prongs or carpet strip of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view, drawn to reduced scale, illustrating another manner. of use of the carpet strip of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 1, but showing a modified form of carpet strip incorporating the principles of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken upon the line 6 -6 of Figure 5, with the direction of view as indicated.

Figure '7 is another prospective view similar to Figure 1, but showing a still further modified form.

Figure 8 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the carpet strip shown in Figure 7 while the operation of anchoring the strip in position is being performed. This view may be assumed to have been taken upon the line 8-8 of Figure 7, with the direction of View as indicated.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but with the installation of carpet strip completed.-

Figure 10 is another view similar to Figure 1, but showing still further modified form of carpet strip incorporating the principles of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken upon the line l|--ll of Figure 10, with the direction of view as-indicated.

Figure 12 is a compound longitudinal vertical sectional view, taken upon the line |2-|2 of Figure 10, with the direction of view as indicated.

Referring first to that modification of our in- 3 vention which is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, our improved carpet strip II is illustrated as being installed upon the upper surface of a suitable floor structure I2 closely adjacent and preferably with one of its edges l3 actually in contact with one of the marginal walls 14 adjacentthe floor,

52. Tl'lQStliP -ll iscomposed of sheet metal in strip formffr'om which preferably two rows l6 and ll of carpet-engaging teeth or prongs l8 are struck.

As is best illustrated in Figure 3, each of the carpet-engaging prongs 18 is of such form that its two side edges 19 are substantially straight and 18', downwardly extending supporting feet 26 are parallel throughout the major portionjof', the

length of the prong, only the outer endof the prong l8 being pointed by convergence of the side edges l9 to a relatively sharp point 2|. Hence,

when viewed from either the front or the back,

each of the prongs I8 is substantiallystraight, except for-the pointed outer end thereof. Howof 'slightlyarcuate form, with the 'result that although the prong at its base is"substantial ly perpendicular to the plane of the strip l-l', at its upper end the"prong points toward the Wallis against "which the edge 13 of the strip l ljbears. These"prongsl 8fare formed prele'rably by die stampin s' that""each tooth is severediro'rn the body" Of the and outer end, leavingonly its'basejintegral with the body of the strip, The toothis thenben't upwards abouta line'joining the ends of 'the lines of severancewh hdefine the sideedges of the prong and; as this'bending operation'occurs, "the prong'is also bent to its described curved or arcuate configuration.

Since the lirieabout which the prong is bent as it is struckjfror'n the plane of the body of the strip, whichlinelieswithm the baseoi the prong, the prongs'ar'e'disposed withtheir relatively wide front faces directly toward the-edge lS'. That is to 'say, any line drawn transversely of any one of the prongs will extend in a direction substantially parallel to'a' longitudinal'dirnension of the body of the strip; The significance of this detail lies in the fact that, after'the'carpet has been installed upon the strip, eachprongpresents a relatively broad frontface 2,2jto the carpet, opposing tensiontherein rather than a sideedge of the prong. This, of course, minimizes the tendency for the prongs to cut the carpet whenthe carpet is stretched very tightlythereupon;

The straight sides'of, the prongs l3, except at their extreme outer ends or points, eliminate the tendency for the carpet to rise upon the prongs when the carpet is stretched, in contradistinc'tion to the action that develops when prongs having upwardly'converging side edges are employed; This detail, considered in connection withthe' fact that the angle 'betweenrthe body of the strip 1 and that fa'ce of each prong against which the carpet engages whenstretched, is notfmorejthan 90", whereas the "upper portion of the prong slopes away from the direction in which the tensionoccurs, makes 'for the' greatest security with which the carpetis' embedded upon the'several prongs The prongs l8 of the two rows 16 and I? are preferably in staggered relation; this arrange: ment permits the use to prongs l8 without seriously weakening the remaining, body portion of the strip H, to insure against the hazard of bending the prongs back strip l 1 throughout its js' icei edges f an ample 'number' of;

ever, when viewed from either side, theprong is in response to the force; which'the "carpet exerts thereagain'st'when'thecarpet is stretched. 'In

struck from the body of the strip ll. These are for'r'r'ie byjcutting two preferably parallel lines ofi'ncfion '21 inwardly from an edge of the body of the strip for eachof the feet 26 to be provided, and then deflecting the metal of the strip between thosetwo incisions from, the plane of the" strip but in the direction opposite, that in vghich the as illustrate r T 28 reaching only to a strip l I and with 'th' padding, substanti face of the carpetstrip' I] then can extend smjocthlyacross the section between theta "'ll padding 28.

Hence, even carpet 29 isjengagedi completed installat the 'edge of the su case if the carpet 9 w 6 Hell ouf'w'ards "frorn theiarpet s center of thero'om;

erv hr i m fi, dithr uehiwh ce Suit ing device may be'driv'en v H in position on the floor lil lt u ltho'uh th ehcjl a vice upon'flcertainfjtyp of these holesftli, howe Width, the direct" $1 I tudinallywithjres "ec pose forthisel'o W strip is to cfo'riipens larly when/the s rip sb n" concrete fiofor', 'fbnthe ,nau device to; shift slightly froih thep' siti'on'inwhich it isf's'tarted while lthe fiail is b'eihg. driven. This; frequently'results]fro M t of the nail with a' iiel ativel of gravel or other h'ardobject e the concrete. As the fastening oceui's iiila'difecii tion perpendicular with respect to the plane of the wall I 4, it is relatively immaterial because even if the entire strip II is shifted away from the wall slightly, the result will be undetectable after the carpet has been laid because it, the carpet, completely covers the anchoring strip.

However, should the shifting of the nail occur in a direction parallel to the wall and if the nail were to fit tightly within the hole through the strip through which the nail is being driven, buckling of the strip would undoubtedly occur,

with the result that an objectionably noticeable bulge would occur in the upper surface of the carpet subsequently laid upon the buckled strip. However, by employing holes 36 which are elongated longitudinally of the strip, a material degree of shifting of the nail while being driven and in a direction parallel to the wall l4, can occur without any disadvantageous result.

Figures and 6 illustrate a slightly modified form of carpet strip, indicated in its entirety at 4|. Here the carpet-engaging prongs 42 are of the same general design as that already described and they are similarly arranged in two parallel rows 43 and 44 with the prongs 42 of the two rows staggered with respect to each other. Supporting foot 46 and 41 are formed respectively in the two edges 48 and 49 of the strip 4|, with the result that the strip is supported in a plane parallel to the floor rather than in the slightly oblique plane which is characteristic of the previously described modification.

Another diiference between this form of our improvement and the first-described modification is that here means are provided for supporting the body portion of the strip 4| adjacent each of the nail holes 5|. The desirability for such support arises from the fact that while the nails are being driven, it frequently occurs that the last blow struck by the hammer in driving the nail home, is sometimes of greater force than is necessary, with the result that the immediately adjacent portion of the carpet strip 4| would be bent downwards forming a hollow or depression in the carpet strip apt to be detectable in the form of a similar depression in the upper surface of the laid carpet. To avoid this undesirable condition, a downwardly extending flange 52 is provided immediately adjacent each of the nail holes 5| in the form of a tongue severed along three sides from the body of the strip 4| and bent downwards from the plate thereof above a line defining the fourth edge, as best illustrated in Figure 6.

Figures 7, 8, and 9 illustrate a still further modiflcation of carpet strip, similar to the modification in Figures 5 and 6, but differing from it in respect to the details of the nail holes 6| provided therein, and the means for support of the carpet strip immediately thereadjacent. In this modification, the nail holes are formed by means of a suitable die in the form of a relatively sharp pointed instrument having a tapered shank. The

point of the die is caused to penetrate the strip by being pushed downwardly therethrough and the tapered shank is then pushed on farther through, causingthe immediately adjacent portions of the strip defining the edges of the hole thus formed to be extruded in the form of a burr 62, which burr serves the function of the supporting foot or flange engaging the supporting also results in forming the upper end 63 of the strip immediately adjacent the nail hole. This also results in forming the supper end 63 of the rail hole with a tapering entrance throat substantially conforming to the tapered under surface of the so-called countersunk or flat head 64 of a conventional concrete-penetrating nail 66. Consequently, after the nail 66 has been driven in, its head 64 lies substantially flush with the upper surface of the body portion of the carpet strip, as illustrated in Figure 9.

The die used in forming the burrs 62 is so proportioned that it spaces the opposed burrs 62 of each pair apart by a distance very slightly less than the diameter of the shanks of the nails 66 which it is intended to use in anchoring the strip to the floor. The advantage arising from such an arrangement is made apparent by Figures 8 and 9, the former of which shows how a nail 66 is held erect by the frictional engagement of the shank with the two burrs 62, attainable by merely pressing the point of the nail into the space between the nails with a force not necessarily greater than can easily be exerted with the thumb pressing downwardly upon thehead of the nail, or by tapping the nail gently with the carpet layers hammer. Consequently, the workman can place the nail in the position indicated in Figure 8, wherein it will be held erect by its frictional engagement with the burrs 62; and then, after the workman has withdrawn his hand from the proximity of the nail, drive the nail home, i. e., to the position indicated in Figure 9, without any danger of hitting his thumb or fingers with the hammer.

Here again each of the nail holes BI is elongated longitudinally of the carpet strip so as to compensate for shifting of the nails 66 as they are driven andin a direction parallel to the adjacent wall 61. This is accomplished by use of a penetrating tool which is of oval cross section rather than round, but which, as described, is possessed of a relatively sharp penetrating point and a tapered shank.

Although the most common manner of usage of the carpet strip of the present invention is upon the floor of a room adjacent the walls thereof, as illustrated in Figure 1, it also affords convenience in laying carpet upon the steps ll of a flight of stairs I2. At the-line where each riser 13 extends upwards from the step 1|, two pieces of our improved carpet strip may be employed: one laid upon the upper surface of the step preferably spaced slightly from the lower edge of the associated riser l3 and with its carpet-penetrating prongs pointing upwards and towards the riser; and the other on the riser 13 itself spaced slightly above the plane of the step 1| and with its prongs directed outwards and downwards toward that step. This arrangement permits the portion 76 of the carpet which extends upwardly toward the next step, to be stretched tight, as well as the horizontally extending portion 11 which lies upon the upper surface of the step The two pieces of carpet stripping thus employed may be of identical construction, thus requiring only one type of carpet stripto be carried in stock, but they are installed in relatively reverse position so as to attain the proper position of their respective carpet-engaging prongs. Referring now to that modification of our invention which is illustratedin Figures 10, 11, and 12, it will be observed that here again the carpet strip is generally similar to those previously described, in that it is provided with two rows 8| and 82 of upstanding prongs, each of these rows of prongs being parallel to and adjacent one of the lateral edges of the base strip 83. Moreover,

the prongs 84 in the two rows 81 and'82 are in staggered relationship, stain the previously dc.- scribed modifications. The prongs 84 themselves, however, differ slightly in the details of their form from those previously described. As best shown in Figure 11, each prong 84 extends up..

wards from the base strip 83in such a manner that substantially a right angle exists between the lower end 86 of the prong and the strip 83. However, throughoutthe major portion ofthe length of the prong 34, it .is slightly arcuate, the'direc; tion of such curvature being upward and "toward that edge 81 of the strip 83 intended to be nearest the associated edge. of the carpeting. Hence, the curvature is upwards and away from the direction in which the tension of'the carpet causes the carpet to press against the prong.

At its upper end, however, the ,prong84 ispI' r vided with a reverse curve so that the upper end 88 also is substantially vertical. This facilitates pressing the carpet downwards onto theseveral prongs and causing the prongs to penetrate the carpet so as to cause the carpet to be engaged upon the prongs. This can easily be affected in any of several Ways, the preferred manner being merely by rubbing a blunt edged instrument along the upper surface ofthe carpet over the prongs, exerting sufficient pressure thereupon to cause the carpet to be pressed downwards, impaling the carpet upon the upstanding vertical ends of the prongs. After having thus been engaged upon the vertical upper ends of the prongs, the tension in the carpet will itself cause the carpet to slide farther .down upon thelower ends of the prongs,'seatingiwithin the concavity of the prongs outer faces, so that accidental displace.- ment of the carpet from the prongs is precluded.

In this modification, the feet 9| which support the body of the strip 83 at suitable elevation above the flooring also are of slightly modified construc-.- tion, in that they extend in planes extending transversely of the strip 33 rather than longitudinal with respect thereto as in the previously described modifications. Moreover, instead of being formed as tongues extending downwards from one edge of an aperture which is open at the associated edge of the strip-'83, as in the previously described modifications, here the apertures 92 which are left'when the tongues 9! are struck downwards from the plane of the strip, are set in slightly-from the associated edge of the strip 83, thus leaving each aperture completely encircled by metal. In other words, a web 93' of metal extends across what would otherwise be the outer end of each aperture 92, this web bein integral with the body of" the strip 83 and hence materially strengthening the entire construction. In this modication, the nailhOles-SG of the sup porting feet 91 associated therewith, are substantially the same as the corresponding elements i1.- lustrated in Figures 7, 8, and 9.

However, still another detail present in .the modification of Figures 10, 11, and 12 not found in the earlier forms, has to do with .fiexing'the strip laterally in its own plane so as to make it conform to curved and angular walls. Thestrip is provided with transversely extending slots l9! extending inwards from the edges of the strip 33. Each alternate slot l! extends-inward from the opposite edge of thestrip B3, and the sides of each slot preferably diverge toward that associ-. ated edge of the strip. However, instead of being in the form of complete slots, each preferably has at least a pair of webs l'02'and I03 extending thereacross, the former beingat the associated edge ofthe strip B3'and thus constituting'a continuation of that edge, and the latter being disposed substantially midway between the ends of the .slot. These webs I02 and H33 are of relatively light construction, so that they may easily be cut out by a workman at the time the carpet strip is being installed. Such cutting can be performed easily with an ordinary pair of tinsnips or with conventional side-cut pliers. Hence, they correspond roughly to the well-known knock outs in a conventional electric outlet box which can easily be removed by the workmen at the time of installation. Afterwebs I02 and H13 of one or more slots have been thus removed, the strip may be bent edgew-isai. e., in its own plane, so as to make it conform-to a convex or concave curve and thus take the configuration of curved or angular walls.

We claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a marginal securing device for carpet, comprising an elongated strip, a'plurality of prongs upstandingtherefrom, each of said prongs having a carpet-penetrating point on its upper end, and feet associated with one of the lateral edges of said strip, each of said feet being severed from said strip along two opposed edges of that foot and being deflected vertically downwards from the plane of said strip to support the assoeiated edge of said strip in elevated position above the surface engaged by said feet, all of said feet being aligned in a-plane parallel to and offset inwards from is edge of said strip thereby providing-an abutment for an edge of carpet turned under said strip.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a marginal securingdevice for carpet, comprising an elongated strip, 'a plurality of prongs upstanding therefrom, each of said prongs having a carpetpenetrating point on its upper end, feet associated with at least one lateral edge of said strip and extending downwardsfrom said strip adjacent said edge thereof to support said strip with said edge elevated above the surfaceengaged by said feet, said strip having a plurality. of nail holes therethrough, and a flange struck from said strip and extending downwards therefrom adjacent each of said holes, and thereby presentin a supporting flange for the .portion o'f said strip immediately adjacent the associated hole.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a marginal securing device for carpet comprising an elongated strip, a plurality of prongs upstanding therefrom, each of said prongs having a carpetpenetrating point on its upper end, and a row of feet associated with each lateral edge of said strip, each of said feet of each of said rows bein struck from said strip and extending downwards therefrom to support the associated edge of said strip, said strip having a plurality of nail holes therethrough, and a'flangestrucl; from said strip and extending downwards therefrom adjacent each 9f said holes, and thereby presenting a supporting flange for the portion of said strip immediately adjacent the associated hole.

4. As a new article of manufacture, a marginal securing device for carpet, comprising an elongated strip, a plurality of prongs upstanding therefrom, each of said prongs having a carpetpenetrating point on its upper end-feet associated with at least one lateral edge of said strip and extending downwards from said strip adjacent'said edge thereof to support said strip with said edge elevated above the surface engaged by said feet, said strip having a plurality of nail holes therethrough, and a burr extending downward from the under surface of said strip at the edge of each of said nail holes and thereby presenting a supporting flange for the portion of said strip immediately adjacent the associated nail hole.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a marginal,

securing device for carpet, comprising an elongated strip, a plurality of prongs upstanding therefrom, each of said prongs having a carpetpenetrating point on its upper end, feet associated with at least one lateral edge of said strip and extending downwards from said strip adjacent said edge thereof to support said strip with said edge elevated above the surface engaged by said feet, said strip having a plurality of nail holes therethrough, each of said nail holes being relatively elongated longitudinally of said strip whereby displacement of said strip by displacementof a nail in that direction while being driven is avoided, and a burr extending downward from the under surface of said strip at the edge of each of said nail holes and thereby presenting a supporting flange for the portion of said strip immediately adjacent the associated nail hole.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a marginal securing device for carpet, comprising an elongated strip, a plurality of prongs upstanding therefrom, each of said prongs having a carpetpenetrating point on its upper end, feet associated with at least one lateral edge of said strip and extending downwards from said strip adja- 10 cent said edge thereof to support said strip with said edge elevated above the surface engaged by said feet, said strip having a plurality of nail holes therethrough, each of said nail holes being relatively elongated longitudinally of said strip whereby displacement of said strip by displacement of a nail in that direction while being driven is avoided, and opposed burrs extending downwards from opposite edges of each of said nail holes and defining a tapering entrance throat slightly narrower than the diameter of the shanks of the nails used to anchor said strip, whereby a nail will be held erect by its frictional engagement with said burrs prior to being driven home to strip-anchoring position.

JOHN M. PATERSON. GEORGE M. PATERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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